Vegetable washing apparatus



May 31, 1193s. 1 ALofT 2,119,170

VEGETABLE WASHING APPARATUS A. LOTT VGETABLE WASHING APPARATUS May .31, 193s.

2 sheets-.sheet 2 Filed Dec. -ras, 193s hwk iffnw. um. .ow

PatentedvMay 31, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE y 2,119,170 t VEGETABLE WASHING APPARATUS Alex Lott, Orange, Tex. Application December 28, 1936, Serial No. 118,000

' 4 claims. (ci. 14s-191) The ,invention forming the subject matter of this application relates to apparatus for washing vegetables; and particularly for washing vegetables such as spinach, turnip greens and mustard greens.

The main object of-the invention is to provide a vegetable washing apparatus of the character -described in which the water used for a final washing of the vegetables may be utilized to efconsiderable saving in the cost of operation.

Other objects of the invention will become ap, parent as the detailed description thereof proceeds.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation of the vegetable washing machine;

Figure 2 is a top plan of the machine shown 1n Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a the line 3- 3Nof Figure 2;

i Figure 4 is a vertical transverse section to an enlargedV scale, taken on the line 4--4 of Figure 3; and f Y Figure 5 is a vertical transverse section taken on the line 5-5 of-Flgure 3.

KReferring to. the drawings, in which similar parts are designated by like numerals:

The washing:V apparatus comprises along tank 6 supported by standards 1 spaced apart to form the upright members of framework 8 which supports the'motor and other operating mechanism for the apparatus. 'I'he tank '6 is divided by a partition 9 into chambers I0 and II. A supporting pla'teIZ extends across the framework 8 to support a motor I3. A pulley I4 mounted on the rotor shaft I5 of the motor I3, is connected by belting I6 to a larger pulley I1 secured to a shaft I8 which is journaled at its opposite end in bearingssupported by the framework '8. A pulley I9 secured to the countershaft I8 is connected by a belt 20to a; smaller pulley 2l suitably fixed to a` shaft' 22, suitably'journ'aled at its opposite ends in the framework and forming a means for operating the pump 23.

The pump 23 has its inlet end connected to a pipe 24 which extends downwardly into the chamber II and terminates a short distance from the bottom thereof. The outlet end of the pump is connected by a pipe 25, T-tting 26 and 4pipes 21 and 28, to a spray pipe 29 extending lengthwise through a rotary screen or drum 30. The drum .30 is 'mounted to rotate about an axis slightly inclined to the horizontal; and is sup- 55 lported and rotated by flanged rollers 31 suitably k the shaft 32.

.for rotation by beveled gears 34 which are xed fect a preliminary washing, thereby effecting a central vertical section taken on,

49 which is fixedk to a Aat its opposite ends in the supporting framework.

vframework and carrying a secured to shafts 32 journaled in the framework above the chamber I0.

The flanged rollers 3l are rotated by means of beveled gears 33 fixed to the projecting ends. of

The beveled gears 33 are connected to a transversefshaft 35, suitably journaled at its opposite ends in the framework. The shaft ,35 is rotated by means of a sprocket 36 fixed to one end thereof and connected by a sprocket chain 31 to a sprocket 38 which is fixed to a shaft 39 journaled at its opposite ends in the framework. Rotation of the shaft 39 is effected by means of a pulley 40 xed to said shaft 39 and connected by a belt 4I to a lpulley 42 xed to the countershaft I8 operated by its connections tothe motor i3.

A sprocket 43 is fixed to the shaft 3-9 and is connected by a sprocket chain 44 to a sprocket 45 fixed to the shaft 46 which is suitably journaled at its opposite ends in the framework. The shaft 46. projects laterally from the framework; and at its projecting end is provided with a sprocket 41 connected by a sprocket chain 48 to a sprocket beater shaft 5i) journaled The sprocket;` 49 is connected by a sprocket chain 5I to a sprocket 5 2, which is fixed' to a shaft 53 suitably journaled at its opposite ends in the Within the chamber II. .A beater is suitably secured to the beater shaft 5 0. These twobeaters operate in a` direction adapted to feed the material being washed, through the chamber II and onto the upper branch of a screen conveyor 56.

' The screen conveyor 56 is mounted in the chamber II and on the framework by means ofthe parallel shafts 51 and 58. To'operate the screen conveyor 56 the shaft` 53 has xed thereto a sprocket 59, connected by a sprocket chain 60 to a sprocket 6I xed to one end of a shaft 62 extending across and journaled in the framework 8. VA gear 63 flxed'to the shaft 62 meshes with the gear 64 fixed o n the end of thershaft 58. Rollers 65 and 66 secured tothe shafts 51 and 58, respectively, serve to support the branches of the screen conveyor 56 properly spaced apart to accommodate a series of spray pipes 61 in' position for discharging a cleansing spray of water upwardly against the upper branch of the conveyor 56. These structural details may be readily'varied to suit the dimensionspof the machine, and form no essential parts of the inventlon.

The apparatus isprovided above the upper beater 54 operating 'T branch of the screen-conveyor 56, with. a splash.

plate 68, below which the spray pipes'6 9 are arranged to spray cleansing liquid downwardly upon the vegetables supported by the upper branch of the conveyor.

The spray pipes ,61 and 69 are connected to manifolds 1li and 'Il which, in turn, are connected to a source of supply of water under pressure conducted through piping 'l2 under the control of a valve 13. i f

The rotary screen '30 is open at its opposite ends. At its inlet end there is provided a hopper 14, which is supported by the framework directly above a wash tank adapted to contain water for giving a preliminary cleansing to the vegetables before placing them into the hopper 14.

In the operation of this apparatus, the spinach or other vegetable is given a preliminary washing'in the tank 15 to loosen the dirt and other matter. The vegetables thus washed are dumped into the hopper 14 which drops them onto the' rotating screen 30. vDue to the inclination of the screen, the vegetables are fed downwardly under the spray- 29 into the tank l l. Theo beaters 55 and 54` feed the vegetables through the comparativelyclean water in the tank l I onto the endless screen conveyor 56. As the vegetables move upwardly on -the conveyor 56, the final sprays of clean water forced through the spray pipes 61 andl 69 complete the cleaning operation. The

vegetables..thus' cleaned arel then removed from the upper end of the conveyor 56.

It will be notedthat the water resulting from the spraying operation through the spray pipes 6l and l69, is comparatively clean and is, therefore, available in the tank l Ito be pumped therefrom and passed through the spray pipe '29 where it is used 4to effect what may be termed a first cleaning operation. 'I'he waste from the spray pipeV 29. is trapped in the tank |40 fand directed by any suitable means wherever desired.

Numerous variations may doubtless be de-l vised by persons skilled in the art without departing from the principles vof my invention. I, therefore, desire no limitations to be imposed on my invention, except such as are indicated in the appended claims.,

What I claim is: Y

l. In a vegetable'washing apparatus, supporting framework, a tank adapted to contain cleansing water, a perforated drum mounted to rotate on said framework and inclined to feed vegetables therethrough into one end of said tank, an ,end-

less screen conveyor of substantially the same width as said tank and extending into and across said tank at the other end, to remove vegetables therefrom, means on opposite sides of one branch of said conveyor and connected to a source of water under pressure to direct water in opposite directions through said branch, and means for forcing-water from said tank at .the end adjacent the perforated drum, ontothe vegetables pass-- tables therethrough into one end of said tank, an

endless screen conveyor of substantially the same width as said tank and extending into and across said tank to remove vegetables from the other end therefrom, means on opposite sides of one branch of said conveyor and connected to a source of Water underpressure to direct water in lopposite directions through said branch, means for forcing water from the end. of said tank onto the vegetables passing through said perforated drum, and beater mechanism movable in said tank for feeding vegetables from the inlet end thereof onto said endless conveyor.

3. In a Vegetable washing apparatus, supporting framework, a tank, a perforated drum mounted above, beyond and at one end of the tank to rotate about an axis inclinedl to the horizontal to feed vegetables into that end of said tank, an endless conveyor extending into said tank from the otherend thereof, means vconnected to a source of water under pressure for spraying liquid onto the opposite sides of one branch of said conveyor, a spray extending through said drum substantially parallel With-the' axis thereof, and

' means for drawing water from,the end of said tank adjacent the` drum and forcing -it through,

said spray in the drum.

4. In a vegetable washing apparatus, a tank having a transverse partition, a perforated drum mounted above the tank at one sideof said partition to rotate about an axis inclined to the horizontal to feed vegetables into said tank over said partition, an endless screen conveyorv extending into saidtank from the other end thereof, means vside thereof opposite the drum, and a pump interposed between said pipes to draw water from said tank and force it through said spray pipe onto vegetables passing through said perforated drum.

ALEX no'r'r.

'connected to' a source of water under pressure 

